Is there another iPhone glitch? Users charged £100s for ‘surfing web’ overseas when internet switched OFF

Consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com is warning iPhone users to beware a possible glitch that could see them returning from their summer holidays with a shock bill for surfing the web on their handset, even if they’ve turned off that facility.

The site has been flooded this week with complaints from consumers, after we highlighted the problem on Wednesday, who say they’ve followed all the necessary steps to avoid charges on various versions of the iPhone but have still come home to sky-high bills.

Many who have complained to their network have got a refund.

In the worst case we’ve seen, one user says she was charged almost £1,500 even though she’d turned off data roaming on her phone throughout her trip to the US.

Turning off data roaming means you can’t download internet data on a handset overseas using a mobile network, but you can search the web on wifi, though this shouldn’t trigger charges from your network.

MoneySavingExpert.com is calling on iPhone manufacturer Apple and the UK mobile industry to investigate this problem and work to prevent further charges.

Despite numerous calls and emails to Apple it has failed to offer an explanation or a solution.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, comments:

“Those who have paid when they shouldn’t have, should contact their network immediately and demand a refund.

“In some cases, we’re hearing the networks are paying out without too much argument, which could indicate this is a known problem. Let’s hope it does not get brushed under the carpet.”

Complaints flooding in

We first uncovered the data roaming problem in April after a member of the MSE team was wrongly billed while overseas despite following all the steps to prevent charges on his iPhone (see the iPhone charges MSE news story).

Since that story, we have received many more complaints from users who have experienced similar charges, culminating in a massive spike this week.

O2, which has more iPhone customers than any other network, admits there was a fault with software last summer that led to erroneous charges, but it says this has now been fixed for those with updated software.

However, complaints are still coming in from its customers and those on other networks.

Three steps to avoid mobile internet charges abroad

You should take three steps before you leave the UK, though if this problem is not rectified or you’ve downloaded unauthorised software you could still be charged.

• Ensure your software is up-to-date. When you plug your phone into iTunes you will be alerted to any new software updates. Then follow the on-screen prompts. O2 says a fault in a previous iPhone software version led to erroneous charges, though it has now been fixed, we’re told.
• Switch off the data roaming function on your handset BEFORE you leave the UK and keep it off. While it is on, some apps trigger data downloading even when you’re not browsing the web. You may also be downloading emails inadvertently.
When you buy an iPhone, data roaming should be ‘off’ by default. You can check by going to settings ? general ? network.
• Ensure your emails are set to manually retrieve message. This will stop it happening by surprise in case you turn data roaming on.

Information sent to us by www.moneysavingexpert.com

Is there another iPhone glitch? is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Hidden Holiday Charges Top 10 New research uncovers stealth charges adding £100s to holiday costs

New research from consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com has revealed 10 major hidden charges holidaymakers get smacked with abroad, resulting in a fistful of extra costs. Yet, for every charge banks levy, there’s a counter move to avoid it …

(Solutions can be quoted as from Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com)

Charge 1. Debit cards that fine you every time you spend

Shockingly, the single most expensive stealth charge when abroad is levied by debit, not credit cards. Many add an up to £1.50 fee every time you spend, so buy something for £5 of euros and you pay £6.50. So, make 30 purchases on the plastic over a holiday and that’s £45 extra.

Culprits: The ‘debit cards from hell’ of Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, RBS, Santander and IF.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Simply avoid these cards if you can. If not, better to take out a lump sum from the ATM and spend that instead.

Charge 2. Cash withdrawal fees, even on debit cards

Use your credit card or debit card at an overseas ATM, and you’ll pay a fee to withdraw money.

Culprits: Almost all debit and credit cards.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Provided your card isn’t one of the debit cards from hell (see above), you’re better off paying on the card than withdrawing cash.

Charge 3. A hidden load on the exchange rate

Card providers themselves get the perfect exchange rate, yet no matter what the currency, they then add a hidden ‘load’ to your rate. Worse, this isn’t split out on your statement, it’s incorporated in the rate you get, so it’s hard to spot. Typically, the load is 2.75%, so spend £100 worth of dollars and it’d cost you £102.75.

Culprits: Almost every debit and credit card.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Grab a specialist overseas credit card for using abroad – as these add no or a low load. In fact they are by far the cheapest way to spend abroad, beating even the best bureau de change. Yet do ensure you repay them in full to minimise interest, for full best-buy info see www.moneysavingexpert.com/travelcards.

Charge 4. Nightmare airport exchange rates

Never change your foreign currency at the airport terminal. You’ll pay substantially more, as they know you’re a captive customer – typically on €500, you’ll pay about £40 more.

Culprits: Almost all airport and ferry terminal bureaux de change.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: If you’re so late you need airport pick-up, simply pre-order it and collect it there for a much better rate (though it’s even better to use the www.TravelMoneyMax.com comparison service to get the best rate).

Charge 5. Interest even if you repay in full

Normally, repay a credit card in full at the end of the month and it’s interest free. Yet withdraw cash from an ATM on a credit card and you’ll pay even if you clear the card. At a typical cash withdrawal rate of 25% APR, the cost for the month is £2 per £100.

Culprits: Almost all credit cards.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: If you use a credit card overseas, it’s better to pay on the card than to withdraw cash and use that to pay.

Charge 6. Fees for using plastic at bureaux de change

Buy currency from a UK bureau de change and most cards treat it as if you’re withdrawing cash abroad and charge a typical fee of 2.5% of the amount withdrawn.

Culprits: All credit cards and the following debit cards: Santander, Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, Cahoot, Co-op, Lloyds TSB, Smile, Natwest & RBS.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Avoid the fee by using your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM and pay with that. If you’re doing it online, try to use a card that doesn’t charge; if not the cost should be offset by using the cheapest bureau.

Charge 7. The ‘commission-free is cheapest’ lie

Don’t believe the ‘commission free’ hype. It’s meaningless, as while the bureau doesn’t charge you a fee, it may give you the worst exchange rate out there.

Culprits: Many bureaux de change

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Simply ask the question: “If I give you £400, how many euros/dollars/shekels will you give me after all charges?” and compare who offers the most.

Charge 8. Anti-security cash withdrawal fees

Withdraw cash while abroad and you pay a fee usually set up as the higher of £3 or 2.5%, so the proportionate cost is more for smaller amounts e.g, it’s nearly a third on top for £10 worth of foreign currency. This means you’re pushed to get larger amounts – not brilliant for budgeting or security.

Culprits: Almost every debit and credit card.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Withdraw larger amounts less often, if possible, aim for the amount where the percentage costs equal the minimum fee, eg, on £3 or 2.5%, withdraw £120, as at that amount £3 is 2.5%.

Charge 9. Poor exchange rates at high street bureaux de change

Comparing exchange rates isn’t easy, as they move daily. Many high street bureaux de change take advantage by giving poor rates. Change ?500, and the best charge just £417, the worst as much as £470.

Culprits: Many High Street bureaux de change

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Quickly check the free www.TravelMoneyMax.com currency comparison site to find which provider gives the best deal for all currencies.

Charge 10. Pay more for paying in pounds

If you’re shopping abroad and the shop asks “do you want to pay in pounds or euros?”, pick pounds and as the shop does the conversion, the rate could be atrocious.

Culprits: Foreign shops and banks

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: It’s always safer to pay in foreign currency, not pounds, as then at least you’ve a defined exchange rate. This is especially true if you’re using one of the specialist cheap foreign cards.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, comments:

“Companies aren’t stupid. They know we relax when we go on holiday and don’t take note of fees and charges too often, so they take advantage by adding huge numbers of tough-to-spot stealth charges, which can shift £100s from our pockets into their coffers.”

“So whether you’re eating out on colons in Costa Rica, calling home with ringgits in Malaysia or doing whatever with your dong in Vietnam, be careful. If possible act early and put one of the specialist cheap travel credit cards in your pocket, paid off in full each month, as that is the cheapest way to spend abroad full-stop – meaning you will get home to a much smaller bill.

The Hidden Holiday Charges Top 10 is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

MP Welcomes Road Announcement

Andrew Turner has today welcomed the news that the Government is set to proceed with a massive £364m investment in Island roads under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Due to the very difficult state of the nation’s finances, a large number of public spending commitments have been axed.  All spending decisions made this year by the outgoing Labour Government were scrutinised carefully by the Treasury and details of the projects to be axed were announced this afternoon in the House of Commons byDanny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Turner agreed that there are some valid concerns about the way in which PFIs operate, but said that the need for investment in the Island’s roads was quite desperate and there was no other way to access the capital to bring about the improvements needed.

In May Mr Turner wrote to George Osborne the Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlining the case for investment in the Island’s roads and subsequently ensured the case was passed on to Danny Alexander.

Mr Turner said

“This is the first sign that the new Government is finally listening carefully to the needs of the Isle of Wight.  We all know that money is tight and many public projects are being axed.  However the Treasury listened to what we had to say and finally agreed that our roads were a high priority as they are in a desperately bad state, much worse than most other places and there was no other way to find the capital needed to repair them.  I also made it clear to the Treasury that the money already spent on preparing for this project would be wasted if it did not now proceed.  I now look forward to seeing the long overdue improvements to our roads actually happening.”

Isle of Wight MP Welcomes Road Announcement is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

90% happy to deal in black economy – huge challenge for new govt Poll of over 10,000 shows most will pay in cash to help others evade tax

In a massive poll on consumer revenge site MoneySavingExpert.com, 87% of people said they would happily pay in cash to get a discount, even if the person told them it was for criminal tax evasion.

Among that group, around a quarter said they would use it as an opportunity to haggle for an even larger discount.

This comes at a time when the new administration faces a huge job to cut the £156 billion budget deficit. Earlier this week, the coalition announced £6.2 billion of cuts to public spending.

The question asked was: “What would you do if a builder / masseuse / cleaner / plumber / market stall holder or anyone else offered you a 15% discount because ‘it’s better in my pocket than in the taxman’s'?”

Of the 11,285 who responded…

• 65% would take the discount
• 22% would haggle and ask for a bigger discount
• 10% would refuse it
• 3% would report it as tax fraud

Martin Lewis, MoneySavingExpert.com creator, says:

“Mention the black economy and people think of countries like Greece or the developing world – yet this is proof illicit transactions probably worth billions happen in the UK too. This is a real challenge for the new government’s austerity drive. While increasing tax take is important, most don’t see putting some cash in a back pocket as too bad, so a crackdown is likely to be highly unpopular.

“Even amongst the small number who’d refuse to take part in the transaction, some commented it was because they’d explicitly been told it was for tax evasion, and had it been left unsaid it wouldn’t have been a problem. It’s interesting to note, as a society, there seems to be an acceptable historic tradition of paying someone ‘tax-free’ while coming down hard on those who play with the benefits system. Actually, they’re two sides of the same coin.

Take a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com

MoneySavingExpert.com is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The Dairy Deli Farm Shop is situated on the A3054 in Shalfleet. Only yards away from Shalfleet Creek this oasis of local produce offers visitors a real chance to taste, smell and enjoy the rich variety of food produced on the Isle of Wight.

The Farm Shop offers you, local meats fresh seasonal vegetables, fresh bread, Calbourne Classics Baked cakes and scones, clotted cream ice cream, milk, cream, Cheeses, jams, chutneys, juices and much more.

Currently the smell of freshly picked Asparagus greets you as you enter and with a background aroma of Isle of Wight Garlic this shop really tantalises the taste buds! The shop showcases the huge range of Award Winning produce produced by Calbourne Classics, owners of the shop, which is located on the farms boundary and if heading to Newport after your visit you will often see the herd of Calbourne Classics’ pedigree dairy cows grazing the pastures by the road side.

FISH (www.fishcowes.co.uk) also visit the farm shop every Friday and Saturday offering one of the few wet fish counters in the West Wight.

The produce extends to also incorporate local fare from the south of England.

Produce available; Calbourne Classics, Garlic Farm, Glebe Farm Jams & Chutneys, Stone Ground Flour & Pasta, Briddlesford Free Range Eggs, IW Pasta, FISH (Fri & Sat), Sharon Orchard Apple Juice & Jams etc, Rosemary Vineyard Juices, Tomato Stall Products, IW Lemon Curd, IW Fudge, Rew Valley Milk & Butter, IW Cheese, Hamiltons Meats, Island Lamb, Brownrigg Poultry, Briddlesford Free Range Eggs, Rosary Goats Cheese, Ben Browns Asparagus, and much more!

The Dairy Deli Farm Shop Shalfleet is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

‘ChangeforLife’ – a way of life at Shalfleet School

Shalfleet has been officially recognised a number of times for its efforts in being a healthy school. In 2007 the school was awarded the prestigious National Healthy School standard and won the Isle of Wight Healthy Eating Alliance Award. In 2010, continued commitment to Healthy Eating was recognised at the Alliance evening celebrating those who have made a significant contribution to embedding healthy eating practices. In recognition of this, Lisa Nicolson, Headteacher, who appears in the Healthy Eating Alliance Award promotional video, was recently invited to attend a ministerial event at 1, Birdcage Walk in London, for a ministerial  Change4Life reception where she met, and was photographed with, the Minister for Health, Andy Burnham.

Shalfleet has a thriving and proactive healthy schools committee (called ‘ChangeforLife’) who meet each half term to monitor the progress of Shalfleet as a Healthy School and to give a lead on many healthy school initiatives and activities taking place. The group includes representatives from the teaching staff, extended schools officer, parents, governors and pre-school, as well as the Head Teacher who personally takes an interest in the well being of each child. The aim of the group is to improve the standard of health and well being of all children attending Shalfleet School, through a whole child approach that encourages both understanding of a good diet (knowledge and awareness of food and nutrition) as well as the importance of regular exercise and relaxation.

There have been many, many healthy schools initiatives and activities taking place at Shalfleet in recent months, which culminated in the school being nominated for the Healthy Eating Alliance Award. Some of the recent activities include;

• ‘Bring your Parent to Breakfast Morning’ which was a great success. The children brought tasty nutritious breakfasts in to school and enjoyed sharing them together – attendees included Dads as well as Mums, Grandads and Grandmas, Governors and friends of the school.
• Healthy Lunch Box Week – the children entered a competition and judged it themselves to see who had the healthiest items in their lunchboxes! An award is given regularly each week in Collective Worship (assembly) to the child who has the Healthiest Lunch Box.
• A Family Walk took place in February in preparation for children entering Walk the Wight in May.
• Bike Maintenance classes – children enjoyed learning about the ‘M check’ which taught them how to run through their own bike safety.
• Sports Relief – celebrated the children’s sporting activities, achievements and awards. They brought in certificates from home and shared sporting stories and moments with the whole school in assembly. The school football team was celebrated, who recently made it to the semi final of the Island Primary Schools Cup.
• Exercise Diary – in which children record and recognise the activities they have engaged in during the Easter holidays.
• Fitness Friday – coming up soon!

Although the ChangeforLife events at Shalfleet help make healthy living lots of fun and accessible for all, it has really started to become a way of life for the school. The Head Teacher is involved in a training programme –  Enhanced Healthy Schools -that looks at how to encourage and enable children and their families to make the change themselves, “that is so much more effective than having healthy ‘do’s and don’ts’ imposed upon you”, said Lisa.

For more information on any of the ChangeforLife activity at Shalfleet, please e-mail us Shalfleetpri@online.net, or call the school office, tel: 760269.

‘ChangeforLife’ – a way of life at Shalfleet School is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Go Wild in the Woods

Come and enjoy a fascinating day in the life of the woodland of Firestone Copse during the spring half-term holidays on Wednesday 2 June.

Set your alarm clocks early as the day begins at 5am with a dawn chorus walk followed by lots of other great wildlife activities throughout the day including pond dipping, woodland crafts, wildflower and butterfly walks, tree climbing, canoe safaris and outdoor art plus loads more, and will draw to a close with night time wildlife detecting at dusk.

We’ll also need your help with Island’s very first BioBlitz where you can get involved with recording all the species that we see on the day – so bring a camera!

Parking is limited at Firestone Copse, so please try and car share. A free hourly shuttle minibus will run from Station Road Steam Railway car park in Wootton.

For the latest event updates and activities timetable visit www.wildonwight.co.uk

Go Wild in the Woods is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Naturezones is run at a ten acre site consisting of wildflower meadows and native woodland at Blackwater. It is a great venue for children to become Nature Detectives. The Wildlife Education Centre was set up by Angela Hewitt and her husband three years ago with the help of Heritage Lottery funding.

Numerous activities include: Tuesday Holiday Club, for 6 – 12 year olds. This includes Hide building, treasure hunts, art and craft. They offer Birthday Parties during the school holidays which include a healthy eating picnic and nature discovery activities – the parents provide the birthday cake. Parents can either stay and join in the fun or leave them in capable hands for two and a half hours.

Naturezones latest project is The Green Girls Saturday Club – giving nature a helping hand. This club is for 8 – 12 year olds and is held the last Saturday of every month. The Green Girls will take part in Forest School type activities, nature investigation, help with the Meadow Makers project and even the odd excursion to other nature reserves on the Island.

Naturezones supports the national curriculum in natural sciences (particularly in the understanding of wildlife habitats), geography, art and craft and social skills in all of its activities. As well as offering one free school visit for up to 30 children until July 2011. They also support the Diploma course for higher education students with work experience and citizenship skills.

There is something for parents too, with their volunteer programme and workshops.

For more info go to www.naturezones.org.uk

Children discovering nature at their own pace. is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Fancy Free Summer Festival Tickets?

Where there’s a skill there’s a way…

launches ‘Summer of Give’ campaign:  Give Time. Get Your Free Festival Ticket

Suffering from a lack of festival funds? Finding that tickets are already sold out? Well, don’t write off the 2010 music festival season just yet says  , The National Young Volunteers service, as where there’s a skill there’s always a way!

has launched ‘Summer of Give’, a brand new initiative asking 18-25 year olds across the country to give their free time this summer to get the time of their lives for FREE at some of the UK’s most sought after – and already sold out music festivals including Isle of Wight, V Festival, T4 on the Beach, Relentless Boardmasters and Creamfields.

Talented 18-25 year olds are being called upon to join the vcrew on the bigvbus at each location. The deal? Get creative and share your time and talents with others in return for free festival access. Simple.

All willing volunteers have to do is log on to www.vinspired.com/summerofgive and tell  what skills they can uniquely offer for free at each festival location. So whether it’s music, dance, photography, writing or even fashion styling skills that make you stand out from the crowd,  needs your help and for just four hours a day. That’s it!

Aspiring DJ’s and bands could hit the top deck of the bigvbus and play a warm up festival set while promising photographers and writers snap, blog and tweet the festival scene. Graffiti artists and dancers could even hold master classes on-board – it’s your call, just tell  what you can do.

Not sure you have a special talent but still eager to get involved? 18-25 year olds looking for more general volunteering opportunities at festivals can still visit vinspired.com to see how else they can get involved in the festival scene for free this summer. All volunteer applications will be judged by ’ s ‘Summer of Give’ panel and those chosen will receive a free festival pass. Creative volunteers will also be given a dedicated performance space each day on the bigvbus.

Director of Marketing and Communications, Jenni Young, comments: “The ’Summer of Give’ initiative aims to make young people look at volunteering in a whole new light. We have some of the biggest festival names on side to show that volunteering can really get you places, the very best places – and for FREE!   This campaign also offers young, ambitious talent a unique opportunity to shine in an amazing setting.” For all the information you could possibly need about volunteering opportunities on the festival scene this summer vinspired.com is a great one-stop-shop. As well as details about the ‘Summer of Give’ – other festival volunteering opportunities also showcased include roles at Latitude, Freeze Festival, Big Chill, Womad, Summer Sundae and Bestival to name a few. For further details on ‘Summer of Give,’ deadlines for each festival applications and v’s terms and conditions, please log on to www.vinspired.com/summerofgive

‘Summer of Give’ 2010 Festivals:

• Isle of Wight: 11-13^th June 2010
• T4 on the Beach: 4^th July 2010
• Relentless Boardmasters: 4- 8^th August 2010
• V Festival: 21^st – 22^nd August 2010
• Creamfields: 28^th – 29^th August 2010

Fancy Free Summer Festival Tickets? is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com and parenting site Mumsnet have joined forces to shove financial education back on the curriculum after it was killed off the ‘Children, Schools & Families Bill’ as a victim of last-minute pre-election legislation jostling.

With over 10m unique users a month combined, the sites today launch www.financialeducationpetition.com. Parents and those let down by their own financial education are urged to use it to send a robust message to those chomping to be the new PM to ensure the next generation isn’t left in the financial mire.

It’s predicted 10,000s will sign, showing the wealth of feeling that this is too important to be allowed to drift into nothingness – and the parties need to reappraise their priorities. In a recent poll of over 8,000 people, 97% supported financial education in schools, while 3% believed it is a job for parents (see notes to editors).

Shockingly, the reason it fell was nothing to do with financial education, but that the parties couldn’t agree over the parental ‘opt-out’ of sex education, part of the same Bill. Had that not happened, financial education was due to become statutory as part of Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lessons in September 2011.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, comments:

“We’re a nation that educates our youth into debt when they go to university, but never educates them about debt. Yet the entire system was all about to change. Things were getting in place for compulsory financial education starting in September 2011 – the DCFS was nicely geared up, last month it even held a conference for teachers on how to teach it. I spoke there alongside Ed Balls, and everyone was excited at the prospect.

“Now it’s been scuppered, yet financial education is an absolute necessity. Enough is enough, we’re now calling on our future Prime Minster to confirm that, whatever happens, they won’t ruin the work that’s been done and leave financial education sitting in detention like a naughty school child.”

Justine Roberts, creator of Mumsnet, says:

“In an ideal world, children would get this kind of information from their parents, but that presupposes a good working financial knowledge in every home in the UK. Mumsnetters are a realistic bunch; they agree we need financial education to be taught in schools to make sure every child gets a good grounding in the basics.”

Chris Tapp from money education charity Credit Action, says:

“For too long we’ve allowed our young people to set off into the complex world of personal finance without giving the education they need to cope. It’s like we’ve been sending out people to drive without first giving them instruction and then being shocked when they crash. It’s a no-brainer, everybody needs to manage money and use financial products wisely and I wholeheartedly support this call to the next government – whatever colour it may be – to ensure that giving every child the opportunity to learn about finance is of the upmost priority after the election.

MoneySavingExpert.com is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

A conversation between the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and well-known inventor, Trevor Baylis, led to Mr Baylis suggesting the setting up of a room to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of small businesses or entrepreneurs. The idea was taken up and now the ‘Baylis Breakout Room’ has been opened at the Winchester Business School and FSB Officers were there to lend their support.

Every business holds Intellectual Assets (IA) – these consist of both intellectual property and ‘know-how’. IAs are fast becoming recognised as potential ‘Intellectual Property Rights’ (IPR) which are the legal rights given to a business to enable it to block or control the use of the IAs by others.

Chairman of the Southampton Branch, Alan Chatfield, said: “The FSB is very proud to support the newly opened Baylis Breakout Room. Many businesses begin with a spark of imagination followed by a lot of hard work but small firms or budding entrepreneurs can often jeopardise their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) through unwitting disclosure for example, in semi-public conversations, or through disclosure to advisors or backers during business negotiations. This new room can offer invaluable help to prevent this.”

It is possible to protect IPR through various agreements, such as a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA, a confidentiality agreement). NDAs are a legal contract between at least two parties that outline confidential material, knowledge, or information, and create a confidential relationship between the parties to protect any type of confidential and proprietary information or trade secrets. As such, an NDA protects non-public business information.

“This room will enable inventors and entrepreneurs to protect their IAs during discussions with business advisors, enabling their conversations to be recorded, as video and audio, and NDAs signed and witnessed by camera,” added Mr Chatfield

FSB SUPPORTER OF ROOM FOR ENTREPRENEURS is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

New Car-Free Scheme hopes to make the Isle of Wight  a ‘greener’ place to visit.

The brand new Car-Free Scheme, is the brainchild of Lois Prior, co-founder of the Big Green Island Project Community Interest Company.

Lois has spent many years working to ‘green’ the island’s tourism industry and was given the opportunity to spent time at the Isle of Wight Zoo’s green week, finding out about people’s travel habits while on holiday.

A map of the Isle of Wight was set up where people placed coloured stickers on places they had visited, or were planning to visit. The colour of the sticker denoted the means of travel, for instance, a red sticker represented car, blue for bus, yellow for train and green for walking or cycling.

“By the end of the week the map was awash with red stickers, even where public transport links were good” said Lois “people were feeling guilty about putting so many red stickers onto the map, especially in front of their children. When asked why they were using their car and not public transport, the answers were usually to do with convenience, cost and lack of information”.

The Car-Free Scheme hopes that it can overcome some of these barriers to using public transport. Island attractions and accommodation providers are encouraged to provide some sort of discount or other incentive to people who get there by bus or train, for instance discounted entry tickets or a free bus pass for hotel guests.

“What surprised me is that many attractions and some accommodation providers are already offering discounts as part of their green policy, but many failed to promote these discounts effectively, if at all. This scheme will promote any business that can offer an incentive to public transport users” said Lois “as well as offering information about island buses, trains, integrated tickets and places to visit without the car. The scheme has been kept as simple as possible. There are no vouchers or special passes. All you need to obtain your discount is your train / bus ticket or your Rover ticket. With a weekly bus Rover ticket costing just £40 for a whole family, I am sure that this scheme will also make economic sense as well”

The first to sign up to the new web site www.car-free.-scheme.org were Vintage vacations and Goodleaf Tree Climbing who are both offering discounts for public transport users. Within a few days of starting with the scheme, Vintage vacations has already taken three ‘car-free’ bookings.

Lois is also taking a good look at how the scheme can incorporate cyclists on the island, extending the benefits to even more non-car users. If you are interested in joining the scheme, please email lois@car-free-scheme.org or call 01983 220220 (leaving a message).

New Car-Free Scheme hopes to make the Isle of Wight a ‘greener’ place to visit. is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

When VAT was temporarily reduced to 15%, the Chancellor added 2% duty to fuel to offset the reduction in tax collected from motorists.

Now that VAT has been increased back to 17.5% again this hidden tax has not been removed – hence recent rises in your fuel costs.

Sign the petition at the link below to have this stealth tax removed !

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/DutyReduction/

Please pass this on to your friends

VAT is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

Business Link has launched a new online resource to help farmers and growers understand farming regulations, and manage the daily challenges of running a successful farming business.

www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast/farming is a dedicated new section on the Business Link website, which provides farmers in Hampshire and Isle of Wight with practical information and guidance to help them focus their planning, apply best practice and understand government requirements, whatever type of farm they have.

The launch coincides with the National Farmers’ Union Annual Conference in Birmingham, from 23 to 24 February 2010. The new farming section brings 86 guides together on one website. They will be updated regularly to ensure that farmers can quickly and easily keep up to date with industry and regulation changes.

This new information is divided into the following sub-sections:

• Running your farm business
• Funding, schemes and grants
• Protecting farm environments
• Livestock
• Crops, horticulture and plant health
• Organic farming

.

Business Link’s Deborah Wyatt says, ‘We are delighted to offer this new service to the farming industry. Farmers and agricultural workers will be able to access a wide range of business information and support in one place, which will save them a great deal of time and money.

‘We developed the new farming content by working closely with all the relevant government departments and agencies, and with farmers themselves. We hope that it will quickly become an essential resource for farmers across England.’

The farming section also links to general topics to include:

• Employing people
• Taxes, returns and payroll
• Health, safety, and premises
• Environment and efficiency

For more information, please visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast/farming to find out Business Link could help your farming business and identify opportunities for future growth or call our customer services team on 0845 600 9 006.

Business Link launches new online service for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Farmers is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

The UK’s No 1 FREE online Eco Auction

Wicycle-it is the fun way to recycle your unwanted goods, gifts etc for cash!

If you use ebay, and don’t like the high fees that you are charged, you’ll absolutely love what you are about to discover…Only private individuals can use Wicycle-It, so you can catch some real bargains, and make a good income as well!

Registering is FREE, listing all the items you want is FREE, sell your items with NO selling fees from the Wicycle-It team and you can even swap your items with other Wicycle-It users!

It’s the smart way to recycle – fast, fun, financially rewarding and best of all - FREE!

Visit Lyn’s Green Biz and click on the Wicycle-It link today!

Wi-cycle-it is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk

There is much talk of “green” issues these days but it can all become very confusing and it is difficult to know who to believe.

Wikaniko (pronounced we-can-eco) is a company that helps everyone to “do their bit” . The company believes that people do care about the damage that is being done to the planet with plastic bags, harmful chemicals and other forms of pollution etc. Not only the planet, we could also cause serious health issues for  ourselves if we continue to put harmful products in and on our bodies.

There is a very easy solution. Wikaniko believe that people do care about the world they live in but that they are not sure how to make the right changes or where to source the right products to help with those changes. They produce booklets cataloguing a range of products to help us all make changes step by step. These products are sold at a reasonable cost . The way we are living is costing us our earth. Wikaniko believe that it shouldn’t cost you the earth to make the changes.

Wikaniko (pronounced we-can-eco) is a post from: Isle of Wight - WightBlog.co.uk